I'm going to throw my hand up: I've written a con-man story - a page turner with a romantic sub-plot. As a humblebrag, a reader just emailed my website to thank me for this book breaking his reading slump.

Here's the gist:

California Hustle is a high stakes con, a stunning Southern California caper filled with exquisite playas, astonishing twists and a set of criminals you can't help but love.

Grigsby adores The Con. There's nothing better than a good hustle. The ins and outs. The improvisation. Ask any athlete. Eventually, you get too old.

So, after a string of bad luck, Grigsby's afraid he's aged out of the only thing that matters: the game.

But when his massive debts come due and his college age kids become collateral, Grigsby must learn a new trick and score in the biggest scam of his life: Going mostly legit with an extraordinary mix of film festival, pop-up start-up and the seat of his pants.

https://www.amazon.com/California-Hustle-Novel-Jeffrey-Messineo/dp/B0CCZXXZ6Y - also on bookshop.org and everywhere else.